When life throws you a curveball, having the support of others can make a huge difference — and if someone you love is going through a tough time, you of course want to reach out and let them know you're thinking of them.
But there's something about sending a card that often seems so… corny.
That's what artist Emily McDowell thought, too. After surviving cancer and living with depression, she was no stranger to how empty all the platitudes could seem — even when coming from well-meaning people.
So she decided to make her own collections of cards!
Called "Empathy Cards," they take on grim subjects like cancer, and chronic and mental illnesses, but she manages to inject some unexpected — and refreshing — humor into them all the same.
While we've seen some of her brilliant work in the past, she's recently come out with a new batch that are just as delightful and genuine as the first.
Take a look at some below, then let us know what you think of these unique cards in the comments.
Emily's 'Empathy Cards' feature hand-lettering and bright colors, as well as refreshingly honest and humorous sentiments.
Having lived through cancer and depression, Emily has heard all the platitudes and wanted to offer a more meaningful alternative.
They're very funny, but they're also achingly honest. 'It’s a really tough problem,' she explains, '[when] someone we love needs our support more than ever, but we don’t have the right language for it.'
The directness of some of them is profoundly touching, and that directness is just as refreshing as the humor.
To date, Emily has produced two collections of cards. The second one, which debuted recently, was created using insight and feedback from customers.
Some of them focus directly on cancer and the various trials that come with it.
Because of her experience with cancer, Emily can offer a unique perspective when it comes to empathy, what helps, and what doesn't.
Others deal with chronic and mental illnesses, and are open-ended so they can apply to a variety of ailments.
She doesn't shy away from the various emotions that illnesses can stir up — nor from snarky humor.
And sometimes, they're just brutally, but beautifully honest.
Besides these empathy cards, McDowell also creates tons of other cute, funny, and touching works of art, all with the same wit and honesty.
If you're tired of the same old greeting cards, SHARE her work with your friends and family!
